December Goals

It's December!  A lot of years, December is almost preplanned with events but this year we will have a much more relaxed season.  I'm ok with that but will miss things like the kids Christmas Program, my annual choir concert, and other special events.  We will do our normal family traditions and we have a birthday to celebrate this month too! 

1. Scrapbooking - 1) Complete 1 page a day (so 31 pages total)  2) File all the photos I ordered last month and then order May and June photos 3) The Spines' Project - focus on the top shelf and make sure all albums are complete/order spines if needed 4) My niece's book.   

2. Reading - 1) Read my book club book 2) Just read, curled up on the corner of the couch with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate!!  

3. Cleaning - 1) Organize and declutter Nate's room 2) The kitchen is the focus - it's the last room of the house that i need to do a deeper cleanout.  (Then I'll start over in January and dig deeper!) 

4. Family - This month is focused on Nate's birthday and Christmas.  Nate has asked me to make him a cake "like I used to" so I have to figure that out. 

5. Homeschool - Wrap up as many projects as we can and as many lessons as possible. 

6. - Holiday Plans - 1) Get our Christmas tree and decorate it 2)Make our gingerbread houses 3) Make and decorate Christmas Cookies 4) Go out and see Christmas lights 

That is all this month.  I may get a few other things done but these are the main goals this month.  

November Goal Recap

 October seemed so long and November just seemed to fly by!!  I do feel like I had better success this month with my goals which always makes me happy!   

1. Scrapbooking - 1) Finish my nieces book (a broken record) but this time it will be done.  As I mentioned in a previous post, if I need to I'm going to change the "story" of the book so I can finish it.I had a plan but didn't accompish it.   2) Complete 2 pages a day scrapbooking (so 60 pages total) Done!   3) File all of the photos I have on hand right now and, once those are filed, order the April photos Done!  4) The Spines - my goal this month is to focus on the top shelf of my scrapbooking shelf and make sure the albums all have page protectors and decide if I'm flipping any of the album covers for others.  I did not get to this yet.  

2. Reading - 1) Just read.  There is nothing better then curling up with a book.  I have a lot on my kindle :-) Done!  2) Write my reading goal for 2021 Done!  Well, it's not written specifically but my books are organized and the photo is taken to actually write about it 

3. Cleaning - 1) The kids bedrooms.  First up is Josh's stuff.  I plan to take a weekend (or 2 if needed) and just spend hours sorting and cleaning out (with Josh's help - he says he wants to get rid of TONS of stuff so we will see!).  Once that room is done, we will work on Nate's stuff. Josh's room is 90% done - we just have the last round of sorting and organizing done.  Because Josh's room has taken longer, I won't get to Nate's room until december.  2) With holidays coming I just want to take time and just simply clean.  I'm hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas this year so making sure everything is nice and neat is key.  Done :-)  

4. Family - Very simply, Thanksgiving.  That is our focus this month.Done 

5. Homeschool - Our goal is just to continue on track.  Both kids are going to finish some, if not all, lessons by Christmas as long as we keep going.  I also want to find some supplemental things for them to do when they are done until the semester begins in January (fun but educational) Done :-) 

6. Holiday planning - 1) Decorate outside for Christmas.  I usually watch the weather and pick a "warm" weekend day to do it all even if it is the beginning of November!!  Done 2) Plan Thanksgiving - the food, the decorations, and all that fun stuff!  Done 3) Get our Grinch calendar gifts-- keeping it super simple! Done 4) Make my gift plan for the kids so I know what to order and when Done 5) Plan our December so we do what is important to us first. I'm putting finishing touches on this :-) 

7. The Basement - This is the bonus space.  If I can find time to do 20 minute sessions in the space, I will and if not, I won't. No bonus time this month :-)  

8. Piano - Just finding a way to get the kids through some lessons This has been a struggle with extra kids here who are always in live lessons with their teachers while my boys have seatwork time.  

9) Photography - Time to read my new book once section at a time and practice :-) Maybe when I'm snowed in this winter . . .. 

10) Spiritual - Complete my Thanksgiving Bible Studies I forgot I even bought one!  Geesh! 

11) Misc - 1) Clean up the yard and fill in the holes 2) Have Josh finish his artwork from last semester  3) Pick out camping dates for next year so I'm ready to reserve them on time  4) I have an idea brewing for a vacation next summer but in order for it to happen I have to plan now and begin saving so my goal is to get it all planned so I can start saving for it :-)  5) Clean out the vehicles and set up my new organizing bins in each one (for lysol, wipes, extra bags, etc) 6) Make sure my November flag is hung up :-) This is the only thing done in the list!  7 I cleaned the garage last month but there are 4 bins of "donations" that I put out there like 5 years ago HA!  While pulling them down to decide what to do with them, I found a basket and two bins I had been looking for for quite awhile so I've decided I need to go through those bins before I donate them! 

Weekly Worship -Chris Tomlin and We The Kingdom - Christmas Day (Lyric Video)

I love Christmas music!  Over the weeks between now and New Years, I'll be sharing some favorites!  

2020 Week in Photos #46

 This was a fun week with Thanksgiving included! 

Here's a look back. 

Saturday and Sunday - I finally took time to just scrapbook.  I set up my card table and enjoyed watching Little Women and doing what I enjoy - creating scrapbooks! 

Monday-Tuesday - These two days were totally school focused.  

Wednesday - No school!! My mom came over and I ran some errands.  Then, we started cooking! Nate helped with the pies; well actually he made the apple pie on his own.  

Thursday - The big day! 

Nate was my chef - he helped me make just about everything going on the table. 

Our pies!  I made two and we bought two from Grand Traverse Pie Company. 

Our snacks.  My guests were not arriving until 12:30 so I cut back on my snack choices.  

Our Thanksgiving Table. 

Of course a football game happened too. 

Our pies!  First up, Nate's caramel apple pie (which is amazing), my pumpkin pie (which Nate also made), and our two Grand Traverse Pies one which was Strawberry Rhubarb and the other was Cherry . .. well it was supposed to be Cherry.  When we cut into it, it was Apple.(and not very tasty either!)  Talk about disappointment!  Uuugg! 

Friday - Today we decorated for Christmas! 

We are enjoying a nice 4 day weekend - as we come to the end of Friday night, it is nice to know that we still have two more days before it's back to the regular business of work and school! 

Weekly Menu - The week after Thanksgiving

 I always feel like the week after Thanksgiving is the deep breath before the busyness of Christmas/December. It isn't a bad thing by any means but rather just that moment of basking in the joy of one holiday before the excitement of the next one beings. It's the time to clean out the fridge and cupboards and start planning for the treats and special meals of Christmas.  So, this coming week is simple and, hopefully easy.  

Friday - So my original plan was leftovers but I didn't really have enough leftovers for dinner (barely enough for lunch!) so we will do our normal plan and get our weekly treat out! 

Saturday - The plan is to still at at my mom's.  It's a nice opportunity for us to hang out at her house with her for a bit each week.

Sunday - I never made our Zuppa Tuscana last week so I plan to make that today!  

Monday - I planned Chicken Alfredo for a week ago but we didn't end up eating it so we will have it tonight (Part of the "clean out the fridge and cupboard plan!) 

Tuesday - French toast sticks and sausage patties 

Wednesday - Darryl is going to be at his dad's to help him after he has cataract surgery so . . .well, we might cheat and get McDonald's or something. .  

Thursday - Tonight is "clean out" not - clean out the fridge and freezer of any leftovers/single items OR I'll make spaghetti.  :-) 

Thanksgiving Dinner

 

I picked up this amazing magazine that is full of amazing recipes in hopes of some inspiration for Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm not sure why I search for recipes every time I host Thanksgiving because, quite honestly, I cook the same thing every year HA! 

What is it that I serve almost every time I host?  Well, let me share! 

The most important part of the meal is . . .the Turkey!  I have two different turkey recipes that I love to make.  One is a Puerto Rican Turkey that  my brother, Jeff, made and I just loved.  It's so unique and flavorful!  The one I'm planning to make this year, though, is a Brined Turkey from the Pioneer Woman.  I've made it a few times and I love the citrus flavor that it picks up from the brine. 

Next comes the sides which, quite honestly, are all pretty simple. 

Mashed Potatoes - I totally cheat.  We love Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes so I just buy a few packs, heat them up and serve them in a serving dish.  They are the best!  Quite a few years ago we had Thanksgiving at my parents and my brother, Ken, brought amazing homemade mashed potatoes - I cannot match those so I don't even try - I just let Bob Evans do the work HA! 

Gravy - I'm not the best gravy maker to be honest but I found a "fail proof" gravy recipe I'm going to use.  Since I use a brine on my turkey, the drippings tend to be super salty so I have to make gravy without the drippings! 

Stuffing -We are very traditional in our stuffing.  I just use a bag of diced bread cubes with seasoning and buy the "stuffing mix" cut veggies.  This year I'm putting it in the crock pot to save room in the oven. 

Sweet Potato Casserole - I was looking for the recipe on my blog and I can't find it so I must not have shared it!  I will share it this year because it is so super good! 

Green Bean Casserole - This ONE is my favorite. 

Cranberries - I'm a little sad this year because we can't get my favorite cranberries from the store in the town where my parents lived.  It was amazing.  So, I have done some research and found a recipe to make my own. 

Broccoli Salad - I like to have something cold.  This is just the standard Broccoli salad that so many make but it is super good.  

Finally, dessert.  This is about the only time all year I make pies.  We will have pumpkin pie  and I plan to try a new apple pie recipe.  We might have another one or two depending on what I feel like doing HA! 

Now, in this house hold, I have appetizers out on the table mid-morning.  I think it makes it more festive and, honestly, we had Thanksgiving at my brother Jeff's house one year and they served appetizers.  I just loved it!  Here's a few things on the list: 

Pickles and Olives

Cheese Ball and Crackers

Fruit and Dip (My favorite dip from my sister-in-law, Deb - best stuff ever) 

So yes, it should be a great day with lots of wonderful food!  

Weekly Worship - Ben Rector - The Thanksgiving Song (Official Video)

Last weeks Thanksgiving song was fun and a little silly.  This weeks song is a little more heartfelt.  This comes off of Ben Rector's Christmas Album.